§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the Report of the Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture on agricultural exports; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PeartThe report on agricultural exports of my Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture in England and Wales is being published today and I am grateful to Sir Nigel Strutt and the members of the council for their work on this most important subject.
The report indicates the scope for further increasing our agricultural exports and makes a number of recommendations for improving our performance. The British Agricultural Export Council already does important and valuable work with limited resources. This report makes a strong case for a more powerful promotional effort by the industry and I shall now be seeking the views of the industry and others concerned on the recommendations.